The Nantucket lightship basket pictured here is one of a nine-piece nest made by Richard “Dick” Cifranic. It is a round basket with cherry base, cane staves, rattan weavers, and a curved oak handle. Richard “Dick” Cifranic was a member of the Nantucket Lightship Basket Makers & Merchants Association. He made this basket in 2001, and it was purchased by the NHA in 2024 in memory of basket weaver Jackie Kupper. Have you ever wanted to make your own Lightship Basket? Our new Learn to Weave a Nantucket Basket workshop at the NHA 1800 House is the perfect place to get to know the terminology and materials and to weave your own Nantucket Basket! 🗓️ This workshop will meet Monday evenings, April 28–May 19. More details and registration here 🔗 https://nha.org/learn/decorative-arts/courses/learn-to-weave-a-nantucket-basket/ Basket (Acc. 2024.18.7). (fb)

With our upcoming exhibition, Behind the Seams: Clothing and Textiles on Nantucket, opening in a little over a month, we thought it was a great time to reshare clips from our Symposium: Nantucket Needlework that was held at the Friends Meeting House in September 2019. In this clip Aimee E. Newell, current Director of Collections & Exhibitions at the Museum of the American Revolution and former NHA curator, takes a look at the historic needlework included in the NHA textile collection. Watch the full presentation on our YouTube channel! Link here ⏯️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NH50BFqfo0&t=2s #nantucket #needlework #summerofseams #behindtheseams Featured objects: Sampler, 1800 Rachel Swain (1780–1831), maker Silk on linen Gift of Sarah B. Swain, 1910.38.1   Sampler, 1800 Elizabeth Hiller (1763–1837), maker Silk on linen Gift of Grace I. Bolles, 1968.10.3   Sampler, 1800 Sally Barker, maker Silk on linen Gift of Annie Barker Folger, 1937.7.1   Sampler, 1800 Love Calder (1785–1870), maker Museum purchase, 2006.27.3   Sampler, 1800 Mary Brown (1791–1874), maker Silk on linen Gift of Helen Marshall Brown, 1994.21.4   Sampler, 1800 Anna Meader (1788–1872), maker Silk on linen Gift of Robert M. Waggaman, 1971.62.8   Sampler, 1800 Sally Stubbs (1787–1832), maker Silk on linen Gift of Virginia Sharp Newhouse, 1987.65.1   Sampler, 1808 Mary Starbuck, maker Silk on linen Gift of Helen Folger Appleton, 1951.29.7 (fb)